LIFE IN VIENNA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 39, 10 November 1919, Page 5

LIFE IN VIENNA

PEOPLE ON THE VERGE OF

STARVATION

THE RICH INDULGING IN MAq GAIETY

I R« TWeci-ash-Prese Associat:o:i-Copyriglu (Kefi. November a, 11.5 p.m.) London, November C Mr. Pliili|> Gibbs, writing from Vienna, Rive.s :i tragic story of life in tho capital, which lie describes as n- doomed city. By a strange freak of social psychology, the; Amtriaiis are crowding into the city. Of the six million people to which Austm has bei-n reduced, two million and a half aro herded together in Vicuna. Every hotel is crowded with people, who sleep in bathrooms and drawing-rooms. The vast majority are on 'he verge of starvation. Chil'dre.i . arc scrofulous, though (he American Kelief Committee lias provided twenty million meals for stoning children in five months—an astounding achievement. The British mission is iU.sn doing splendid work in bringing supplies. Vienna is now without industries, and Treasury notes are hardly better than waste paper. Mr. Gibbs add?: "Yet the desire for mad gaiety and luxury would deceive ;i superficial observer, who only saw the- upper fifty thousand, who are gorging themselves prodigiously, regardless of cost, at retaurnnts, and jazzing in dancing halls, while the rest aro starving Unless the Alliev formulate a policy the Austrian people aro doomed"—Aus.-X.Z. Cable Assn. CONDITIONS WELL-NIGH DESPERATE. (Dec. November !), 5-f) p.m.) Vienna, November 6. Sir William Good'?. British representative, telegraph.; to Router to tlie effect that conditions in Vienna are well-nigh desperate owing to tho non-fulfilment of contracts by ,Tugo-Sl,w and "Czecho-Slir.-.Vt GorernniMits to deliver foodstuffs and coal .respectively. There nre absolutej lv no reserves' of bread, meat and fats. I Tho position is aceoiiliialod by delays j to food trains owing to the shortage of coal—Renter. -